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Oman could escape Luban but fears grow for Yemen

Oman is likely to escape the worst of tropical storm Luban, and will
probably head towards Yemen instead, Omani forecasters said on
Wednesday.
But as it heads towards Yemen, the storm is likely to develop into a
category one cyclone, over the next 12 hours, Oman met office added.

Meteorologists warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds would hit
Oman as the storm makes landfall. And residents have been warned to take
precautions.

Meanwhile, Yemen, worn by an ongoing conflict that has weakened the
country’s infrastructure, will face the full force of the storm.

The weather system is approximately 290km away from the southern Oman coast and moving towards Yemen.

Oman’s Meteorology specialist, Hamood Al-Naabiya, had previously told
Arab News on Tuesday that if the storm traveled towards the Gulf of
Aden, the destructive effects would be less than that of Cyclone Mekunu
which killed dozens in May.

In May Cyclone Mekunu ripped through the Yemeni island of Socotra,
causing severe flooding, and extensive damage including six ships that
sank - four at sea. Flood waters washed away thousands of animals and
cut electricity and communication lines. Cyclone Mekunu then moved onto
Salalah where whole areas of beach were washed away, as were roads,
power cables and properties damaged.

At the end of the week, Mekunu had left 30 people dead - including a
12-year-old girl in Oman, while dozens of others were missing.